Ancient People Had Clogged Arteries Despite Lack Of Sugar, Fat-laden Diets, Inactivity, Smoking And Widespread Obesity.

From "No TV or Obesity, But Ancient People Still Had Heart Disease: Mummy study shows that, just like today, inflammation spurred blood vessel blockages" on National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus:

Using CT scans of mummified remains from ancient Egypt, Peru, the Aleutian Islands and the American Southwest, researchers have found evidence of widespread atherosclerosis -- the hardening of heart arteries from fatty substances that build up, eventually leading to heart attack or stroke.

That's despite the fact that those ancient groups were largely free of today's perilous lifestyle factors, such as sugar- and fat-laden diets, inactivity, smoking and widespread obesity.

"Our team has evaluated mummies from five different continents. We have yet to find a culture that didn't have atherosclerosis," said cardiologist Dr. Gregory Thomas, the lead author of a review published in the current issue of the journal Global Heart.